By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
January 20, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences [KCU] kicked off its centennial celebration year with the ribbon cutting of its administration building.

The largest medical school in Missouri, and the one of the oldest osteopathic medical schools in the country, hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony last Tuesday afternoon. Marc B. Hahn, president and chief executive officer of KCU, welcomed everyone in attendance for joining them and thanked board members and local dignitaries for their help in making KCU an anchor in the Historic Northeast community.

“The opening of our renovated administration building marks yet another milestone in KCU’s century long history,” Hahn said. We are proud of our past and look forward to a bright future of educating the region’s top physicians.”

Originally home to the first Children’s Mercy Hospital, the building was purchased in 1971 by the KCU Alumni Association, gifted to KCU in 1975 and following extensive renovations, became the school’s official address in 1979. The recent, 16 month renovation gutted the entire building and was completed this past December, resulting in a more modern facility while retaining its classic facade. The newly remodeled Administration Building includes the Walker Family Welcome Center, the Board Room and 11 departments, housing approximately 70 members of KCU faculty and staff. More than one mile of wood from the original building was salvaged and reused; the project will be LEED certified at the Silver level by the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy and environmental design.

“This 100 year old structure is now one of the more modern buildings on our campus,” Hahn said.

Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner noted how excited he was to represent the city at KCU’s event because as someone who once lived in the Northeast community and seeing what has transpired at KCU over the past several year, he was excited to see the changes made.

But Wagner wasn’t just at the ribbon cutting to represent the city. He was there to recognize the university and all it has done, not just for its students, but for the Historic Northeast, as well.

“It has been a great community partner,” Wagner said, adding faculty and alumni started the organization Northeast Neighbor to Neighbor, which provides effective support and access for medically underserved neighborhood residents. Wagner was once a board member for the organization.

In an area with few anchors tenants remaining, Wagner pointed out that KCU is doubling down while betting on the Northeast, providing the example of its recent purchase and demolition of the Capri Motel.

“They made a commitment not just to their institution but to this community,” Wagner said. “They’ve seen the blight in this neighborhood and have courageously stepped forward to deal with it. They [KCU] have said we not only like this area and we have history in this area, but we want to be here for years and years to come.”

Throughout the year, the school will hold more events to celebrate its 100-year anniversary, including playing host to Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Randy Schekman on campus Research Day.